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I want a computer that I own

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Re: I want a computer that I own

#541

Post by avhception »

fouuler wrote: post #394
kokx wrote: post #15

I have a similar feeling, but with modern smartphones. Owning my computer is still relatively possible. I can build a computer from parts which I can choose, and have a choice in which operating system to install on them. Laptops are slightly more closed, but even on those I can choose the OS myself. Modern smartphones however, seem like walled gardens in which I have no control at all. I cannot choose any of the par…

> Owning my computer is still relatively possible. I can build a computer from parts which I can choose, and have a choice in which operating system to install on them. Where can I find, how can I build a computer---that isn't 13 years old---with open firmware of which one doesn't reasonably suspect that the NSA put a backdoor into it?

Maybe have a look here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26394439

Re: I want a computer that I own

#542

Post by bumbledraven »

This separation of ownership and control is discussed at length in James Burnham's The Managerial Revolution (1941). The central idea, if I'm not butchering it too badly, is that, as our technological society becomes increasingly complex, the owners of things no longer have control over them, and, therefore, the "owners" of those things no longer actually own them. The true owners, according to Burnham, are an emerging "managerial class" consisting of, e.g., bureaucrats, administrators, and technical managers.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#543

Post by naravara »

vbezhenar wrote: post #451
Siira wrote: post #438

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All those Apple apologists should go and take a look at the world; I live in Iran, and here Iranian apps just use a business profile to install. There are even alternative app stores using device management profiles. And these apologists keep bullshitting that the monopolist walled garden actually keeps people safe. The walls don’t keep out anyone powerful, they just enforce rents.

That's surprising as Apple is supposed to revoke those kinds of certificates pretty quickly. Enterprise certificates are for use inside enterprises, not for outer users.

Iran is under embargo by the US. Consequently, Apple doesn't do business in Iran. If someone buys an Apple product in Iran they're getting smuggled hardware that has likely been jailbroken. It won't be connected to anything Apple or iCloud unless they're going through some kind of VPN. Certainly nobody is getting developer certs there and they can't do any payment processing so most regular apps are gonna be out of the question.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#545

Post by jpttsn »

Computers have come a long way in a short time and are very complex. Maybe the diffuse ownership (that OP bemoans) is necessary for that complexity, or at least for it to develop so quickly.

If I want a typewriter, car or handgun I “truly own”, I might be able to build one, as a last resort. But building a satisfactory computer without the global supply chains (that impose the bemoaned limitations) seems impossible.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#546

Post by antman »

antman wrote: post #424
bboygravity wrote: post #329

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> iOS takes all of these away. Complete backups are built-in (I know android has it, but I don't know how bulletproof is this) Not to burn you down, but to burn Android down: no, Android does not allow you to take complete backups. Let alone "built-in". The only backups that are made are forced to Google cloud and only backs-up apps that where downloaded through Google Play and app settings for Google stuff. It is an…

Backups are a total black pattern where you either pay Apple for ever or the respective APIs are horribly broken. It would require zero effort on Apple's side to integrate backup to other servers using the OS or other Apps. That means without silently stopping them or even worse slowing them down to kb/s once in the background.

So yes you also need to install itunes to backup on your computer, because why directly mount it as a usb drive without an apple app? That would also need zero effort from apple, but I was talking about an online backup with since forever established protocols.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#547

Post by COGlory »

Bancakes wrote: post #318
sangnoir wrote: post #257

Earlier quoted context omitted.

user-controlled / cheap / fast - pick 2. There's no way around economies of scale for consumer products.

Why can't Pine64 make $400 pinebook pros? I'd happily purchase a device that does something in 21st century standards.

The reason I've seen for the phone hardware is that they simply can't source hardware that is more performant but still open enough to sufficiently develop for.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#548

Post by chokeartist »

danogentili wrote: post #493
Razengan wrote: post #466

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All the Apple haters keep missing the point for why Apple users prefer “walled gardens”: They are fucking beautiful respites from all the crap outside their walls. Apple has refunded me without question whenever an app tried to scam me, no matter how big people popular it was, whereas apps using third-party payment systems almost never give any refunds.

Imagine actually using free and open-source apps from free and open source app stores&operating systems instead of buying an overpriced rehash of open source software.

I don't want every piece of software I use to be a science project. I will pay for quality, feature-rich software.

Re: I want a computer that I own

#549

Post by unethical_ban »

coldtea wrote: post #447
xxs wrote: post #418

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That was supposed to be an honest question with an honest answer. There was no need for a snarky remark. But yes, totally. The topic is about owning your own hardware/software combo - so having addons/customization is the definition of it.

> That was supposed to be an honest question with an honest answer. There was no need for a snarky remark. Well, somewhat snarky. It's still a legimate question. Why would one "need" plugins on a mobile browser? What kind of functionality that mobile Firefox doesn't provide? > The topic is about owning your own hardware/software combo - so having addons/customization is the definition of it. Well, the topic is about…

Why would you want to block ads on your desktop browser but allow them on mobile?

Re: I want a computer that I own

#550

Post by chasil »

franga2000 wrote: post #417
bmn__ wrote: post #397

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> desktop Linux user like me, open hardware is already a reality Power or RISC-V ISA hardware are in low stock, have very few, specialised vendors and are not affordable. I have great sympathy for people who refuse to pay the outrageous difference to off-the-shelf hardware that can be bought anywhere just to gain a level of privacy that they should have in the first place. AMD and Intel have rootkits in their hardwar…

I seriously doubt either Intel or AMD ship different silicon to the NSA or whoever else. At least from what I've read, the only difference (at least on Intel) is the "NSA bit", that can actually be turned on on any chip these days. System76 actually ships machines with it enabled by default.

The Intel Core 2 Duo/Quad was the last CPU where the "Management Engine" could be completely wiped and disabled.

This is my experience in removing the ARC firmware code from two different HP desktops (I attached both BIOS images):

https://github.com/corna/me_cleaner/issues/233

These PCs are quite inexpensive. I run OpenBSD with hardened Chrome on one of them, for all of my finances.

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